How many original members are still in The Cure?
In many ways, The Cure is synonymous with Robert Smith. This makes sense, considering Smith’s artistic vision guided the band to become forerunners not only in the darkwave aesthetic but also in the broader gothic rock movement. A true pioneer of blending melancholy with beauty and blurring the lines between both, Smith epitomised everything The Cure came to represent.
That said, while Smith remains the only lasting original band member, several lineup changes have occurred since 1976, starting with the charismatic frontman alongside Lol Tolhurst and Michael Dempsey. The trio met and formed the band in school, using a couple of different band names before eventually sticking with The Cure. They released their debut, Three Imaginary Boys, in 1979, which glimpsed at everything the band was and could be.
However, it was the inclusion of Simon Gallup and Matthieu Hartley that witnessed the band’s transition to even darker sonic and thematic territories, with albums like Seventen Seconds and Pornography venturing into more overtly atmospheric realms—the perfect spotlight for Smith’s lyrical intricacy and vocal charm. Then came Disintegration, The Cure’s most revered lineup, which comprised Smith, Tolhurst, Gallup, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams, and Roger O’Donnell, culminating in their most refined and established sound to date.
Disintegration wasn’t just a reset of sorts for The Cure; it showcased their true potential, with world-class musicians enhancing Smith’s immense narrative complexity and ability to blend each and every multifacet of life, often in one line alone. This wasn’t just another record; it presented stories within stories and countless avenues for artistic analysis.
So, why was Lol Tolhurst fired from The Cure?
However, recording Disintegration wasn’t as smooth sailing as it might seem. Tolhurst, for one, had an exacerbated alcohol reliance that fractured the band dynamic, leading some to threaten to quit entirely. In the studio, he was erratic and unpredictable, with Smith claiming the alcohol abuse caused his musical contributions to lessen to zero.
After he was dismissed from the band, he never returned, although he seemingly reconciled with Smith, joining him for a run of shows years later. In many ways, people still view The Cure as a collaborative effort between Smith and Tolhurst, particularly considering their upward trajectory in the early years. However, much of this perception came from Tolhurst’s own legacy and contributions to the goth movement with books like Goth: A History.
Even still, the band’s endurance ultimately lands with Smith, who somehow managed the impossible feat of creating music that was as beautifully ambiguous as it was on the nose. Many of his songs incorporate conceptual stories that reflect the messiness of life itself and how, beneath the surface, true beauty lies in the ability to feel everything, no matter how dark.
On top of this is his physical demeanour, which visually represents everything his music signifies. His unwavering commitment to consistent innovation also drives people to remain loyal and endeared to his craft no matter how much others attempt to criticise his age or longevity. Even better is his own humility, which perfectly complements the vagueness that permeates the walls of The Cure’s flawed world. As he put it: “I wear lipstick, I’m 65. I’m not the person to stand up to say what’s wrong with the world.”
